I'm miserable: that's why I have such a bad back, because I'm endlessly stressing out about my career.

I did a couple of films, I was very lucky at the beginning of my career... and then, I never had another job here for ten years probably and I moved to Europe.

I loved looking at myself when I was very photogenic, at the very beginning of my career.

I'm not really a political animal but I am rather fascinated by the meltdown of England and America. In the end, it seems as if America might come out of it, but I'm not sure if England is ever going to recover.

I realised those things my ego needed - fame and success - were going to make me terribly unhappy. So I wrenched myself away from that. I had to. I had to walk away from America and say goodbye to the biggest part of my career because I knew, otherwise, my demons would get the better of me.

I think I've had a bit of a stop-start career. I came onto the scene quite early, and then I paused for a bit.

In the course of my career, which has been an incredible rollercoaster ride, I look at the journey and think it's been immense.

Cummings' career as a writer - and a painter - was as wobbly as his love life. He tried his hand at playwriting, satirical essays, and even a dance scenario for Lincoln Kirsten.